Concentrator.



J. F ISBELLL CONCENTRATOR.

APPLICATIYON FILED APR. 6, 1912.

I Patented Feb. 1, 1916.

J. F. ISBELL.

CONCENTRATOR.

APPLICATION man APR. 6, 1912.

Patented Feb. 1, 1916 Z SHEETS-SHEET 2.

4 cf! W fi Zzzyrm. 0 /2 a w/ww/ 4y JOHN F. ISBELL, 0]? LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR T0 QRREN ALLEN, OI

DENVER, COLORADQ- cononmna'ron.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 1, rate;

Application filed April 6. 1912. Serial No. 688,855.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN F. IsBELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles, State;

whereby a high metal saving efliciency mayv be attained by the separation and saving of those portions ordinarily known as slimes.

In my invention I carry out the operation of ccncentrating and separating valuable minerals from their gangue in such manner as to save and separate from the tailings that part of .the materials usually known as slimes; that is, that part which, on "account of its peculiar physical characteris tics, is usually very difficult to efi'ectively handle. The separating is carried out on a table carrying a comparatively thick bed of material in which the upper portions protect the lower valuable strata; that is, the depth of flow makes the lower strata run smoothly, evenly and quietly and allows the values to be separated and concentrated. The resultis a thorough concentration and separation of the valuable minerals, the slimes, from the gangue or tailings.

My invention consists fundamentally in a device for carrying out the following de-- scribed mechanical operations. The pulp is first fed on to the concentrating tableand is so handled and manipulatedthat the natural gravitational stratification is allowed to take place, the heavier and finer particles sinking to the bottom and the lighter and the coarser particles arranging themselves above. This function I would call vertical .separation or concentration. The next step in the method of operation carried out hymy machine is the separation or concentration-of the material in a horizontal direction; that is, means are provided for movingthe lower' and heavier portions'of the stratified ma -tcrial in one direction while the upper linhterportions are allowed to move in another direction. The result of this operation is that the heavier and finer materials are concentrated withv respect to both vertical and horizontal motion. The final operation. is that of removing certain portions of the material, preferably the lower strata thereof, at the points where the heavier values have been concentratedby this verticaland hori zcntal concentrating movement. In prac-, tice, it might be said that vertical and hori- Zontal movements are substantially simultaneousw Pulp is fed on tothe table and the action of concentration and removal of the values is continuous. In its preferred form, the 'machine which I now use to accomplish this method of concentration consists of a table with a distributing or concentrating upper surface, the table being elongate and slightly higher at the head or feed end "than at the'tail or discharge end. At the tail end I provide a slight raise which serves to hold an even bed ofpulp on the table and to" prevent excessive velocity of flow. The table is movedto and and this continuous movement allows the I heavier materials to take up their. position forming the-lower strata. Suitable rifiies are supplied onthe table which catch only the .lower strata of .the material. These riflles are placed at a slight inclination to the. direction of slope. of the table, so that .in

-fro by a suitable mechanism .so as to con tinuously keep the solidmaterial in motion,

addition tothe longitudinal movementof all] the materials,thelower'and heavier porticns .are' given a transverse horizontal; movement which, gradually. concentrates all of the values alon line longitudinal '0 the table. Along this concentration line I arrange a suitable number of outlet devices, being arrangementsfor removing from the table thelower strata of the material on the concentration, line without drawing out any ,offl-the upper strata. This means'that the lower strata on the concentration line must ,be withdrawn from the table without disturbing the-upper" strata and without forminga-stream;which might change the flow of materials over the table; and I will describe in detail herein after a form ofde'vice, being-the now preferred form otthisportion" ofmyJ'inVention, which accomplishes thisoperation etficiently, 1

It will be .understcod-=: that; I intend throughout this specification the term riffles toinclude'any device of that nature;

.905 a single concentrat on tion taken as indicated by line 33 of Fig.

1. Fig. 1 is a detail perspective of one of the devices for removing the lower strata of values from the table. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same. Fig. 6

' is a perspective showing the arrangement of riflles (n the table surface and indicating the flow of the different strata of material thereon. Fig. 7 is a section showing a preferred form of table-vibrating mechanism.

In the drawings 5 designates a suitable base frame which may be constructed in any desired manner, as the particulars of this construction and ofthe general mounting of the table do not enter directly into my invention. Upon this base frame 5 I prefer to suitably mount sheaves 6 upon which bearing rods 7 formed as pipes are supported so that they may move longitudinally. Bearing rods 7 are secured by suitable brackets or bearings 8 to the under side of table structure 9. This arrangement provides a structure for supporting the table allowing smooth to and fro motion without objectionable vibration or quivering. Table structure 9 is comprised mainly in a surface member 10 supported on a suitable table framework and surrounded preferably upon two sides and its upper end by suitable Walls 11 and 12 for retaining liquid upon the table. Surface member 10 may be covered with a suitable liquid proof covering material, as shown at 13 in Fig. 5.

In Fig. 1 I have shown the plan of atable consisting of two distinct portions; but each portion is complete in itself, and I only construct a table in'this manner for mechanical and economic reasons. In this case the table top is divided by a longitudinal central wall 11 and thetable surface on each side of this longitudintl central wall is identical with that on the other side. Upon the surface member of the table I preferably plac two series of parallel riflies 20, these riffles extending generally longitudinally of the table but having a slight inward inclination toward the center of each table surface. The central longitudinal line on the table surface I will call the concentrating line; for it is along these lines that theyalues are concentrated and removed. (From the following described operation it will be seen that each series table surface member 10 may be slightly higher along its central concentrating line than along other portions; but the slope from the concentrating line to the outer longitudinal edges of the table is comparatively slight, if any is used at all. {The riflies 20 are preferably higher at their ends adjacent the concentrating line than at their ends at the outer edges of the table to accommodate the gradually increasing strata of values. This is shown most clearly in 1 Fig. 3; and in a practical table now in use I use successfully riflies which are about oneeighth of an inch high at their outer end and five-sixteenths of an inch at their inner or concentrating line end. The head end of the table is to the right in Fig. 1: and the table as a whole slopes slightly downwardly to the tail end, to the left in that figure. It will be seen that the rifiles thus extend downwardlv longitudinally on the table and diagonally inwardlv toward the concentrating line. When material is delivered to the table, it will slowly flow down longitudinally of the table: and, if the table surface is higher along the concentrating line than along the edges, the flow will be greater at the edges and the material will be deeper there. The action of the table, however. can be maintained without having the surface high along the concentrating line. The lower, or tail, end of the table is banked up slightly. as at 100, to hold an evenly flowing bed of pulp over the riftles.

It will be seen that the riflles extend inwardly'to points adjacent the concentrating line and that suiiicient space is left between their ends for the flow of material directlv down the concentrating line of the table without of necessity passing over the riffles. This-as will be later explained. is true ofthe heavier materials carrying the values. At suitable intervals down the concentrating line of the table I place discharge or outlet members 25 of the general configura tion and construction shown in Figs. 4 and 5. These members 25 are made of such angular elongated shape that their edges form continuations of two approaching rifiies, the rifiles at this point being allowed to abut the outlet device as is best shown in Figs. 4 and 5. As before explained, these outlet devices are designed particularly to remove only the lower strata of the material over the concentrating line of the table and to remove it in such manner as to not disturb the other materials on the table. I preferably provide a suitable body 30 of ward end, through which aperture a small amount of water may'pass. Water is delivered independently to this outlet device through a small tube 37, or any other convenient means, connecting with a water sup- The'water falls directly on 36 and partly over the rear edge of shelf 35 directly above the bevelededge 33 of bottom 32. This water, comparatively small in amount, serves only to prevent the choking of the opening "at 38 and to keep the pulp moving freely over into the discharge pipe 34. Extending out forwardly of the body 6 '30 there is a suitable plane member 40 preferably parallel to the table surface, member 450 forming constructively a continuation of shelf 35. This member 40 is supported by su table side supports 41 preferably formed integ ally with the body 30; and it also preferablv has a pointed forward or upper end project nginto the downwardly moving stream of m terial.

The'height of member 40, the height of shelf 35 and of bottom 32 will depend en- 'tirelv upon the character of material being "hand-led.vv But the arrangement is always such that onlv the lower strata of heavier aiidfine'r particles will pass under the plane member. 40. which may be-termeda pulp di ider, and into the'outlet pipe 34. The upper or interior surface'of bottom wall 32 is preferably e'qualin height from the table surface to Itheheight of the under surface of member .40,'-so that-the strata of pulp passing under the member'40 will only flow ot'er the beveled edge '33 of bottom wall 32 as fast as'the pulp-elsewhere on the table is 'flowing downwardly. This provides that there shall'be no undue suction under the member 40 to draw in the upper .strata of the material and that only the strata which normally are below the lower surface of 4 member 40 will pass into the discharge pipe 34. Discharge pipe 34 is of ample capacity to freely carry ofl all the pulp which will pass through the opening beneath the member 40 and through the opening at 38, so that the strata beneath member 40 may "freely flow downwardly longitudinally of the table and be discharged therefrom.

- This is one of the important features of my invention; that the material removed from the lower strata of concentration is re -moved freely without either causing an acof moving the table longitudinally to and fro. Although, so far as my invention is directly concerned, other mechanisms will suffice, the mechanismabout to be described accomplishes precisely the desired movement for hastening the flow of material down the table without diminishing the opportunity for withholding the values therein and without objecticnally vibrating or shaking the table. This head motion may typically consist in a suitable base frame 60 carrying a horizontal crank shaft 61. Crank shaft 61 is revolved through the medium of any suitable mechanism, being preferably provided with suitable belt Wheels and a suitablebalance or flywheel (not shown). A connecting rod 62 engages the crank of crank shaft 61 and normally extends directly upwardly. A trunnion 63 is mounted on the upper end of the connecting rod which is engaged by two toggles 61. The outer ends of the tcggles engage ad- 'justable abutment blocks 65, one of which is adjustably mounted on an extension 66 of frame 60 and the other of which is adjustably mounted on rocker 67. Rocker 67 has suitably upwardly projecting arms 68 engaged by a cross-head 69 adjustably mounted on rod 7 0. Rod 70 suitably connects with the concentrator table, and a spring 71 suffices to move the table to the left in Fig. 7 and to constantly pullcrosshead 69 against the extensions 68 of rocker 67.

In operation, the rotation of crank shaft 61 causes the vertical oscillation of connecting rod 62 and trunnion 63. This causes a horizontal oscillation of rocker 67; and it will be seen from the relative arangements of the'parts that a peculiar motion is imparted to rod 70. When the crank is in its upper position, as shown in Fig. 7, the horition is one which creates the im ression of the table moving down (in the-direction of its tail end) and thenlbeing jerked back quickly, while the change of motion. at the upper end of its movement is comparatively smooth and easy. This means that the materials on the table are moved downwardly efficiently retained on the table and caught in the discharge openings.

In operaticn, the pulp may be fed to the table inside suitable frames 73 and, overflowing these frames, pass under a spreader bar 74 so that it is evenly spread over the table. The pulp stands thickly enough on the table to cover the rifiies thereon; so that the lighter upper strata of the pulp may pass directly down the table over the riflles. The passage of this lighter strata is somewhat outwardly toward the outer edges of the table and downwardly to compensate for the movement of the heavier material inwardly along the riflles toward the center of the table. This action is somewhat more clearly shown in Fig. 6, where the short heavy arrows designate the paths taken by the heavier materials and the light longer arrows designate the paths taken-by the lighter upper strata of materials. The constant vibration of the, table serves to move the materials downwardly over it and to allow the adjustment of the heavier and finer particles below and the lighter and coarser particles above. In practice, I have found that the fine heavy metallic particles collect at the bottom. immediately above being the coarse metallic particles; above these the line light particlesaccumulate and on top of all are thecoarse light particles. The heavier metals being low enough to come into contact with the ritlles are moved inwardly toward the concentration line as they pass down the table. Moving downwardly to this line they are thencaught in the discharge pipes and pass out of the table in the manner hereinbefore described. The discharge pipes 25% may connect with any suitable collecting means, such as a trough 75. The tailings are passed over the tail end of the table and may be handled in any manner desired.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In combination, a longitudinally reciprocating separator tableadapted to separate materials both vertically and horizontally and to concentrate and move the heavier materials along and below a concentration line, a relatively thin horizontal strata separator member projecting against the flow of material along the concentration line. and outlet means communicating with the space beneath said member.

2; In. combination, a longitudinally reciprocating and longitudinally inclined sepa' rator table adapted to separate materials both vertically and horizontally and to concentrate and move vthe heavier materials along andbelow afconcentration line and separator means arranged on said concentration line and comprising a thin flat horizontalstrata separator member projecting toward the upperencl of the table against the movement of'material alongthe concentration line and spaced above the-table surface, and outlet means communicating with the space below. said separator member to carry ofi" the material separated by said separator member.

3. In combination, a longitudinally reciprocating and longitudinallyinclined separator table adapted toseparate materials both vertically and horizontally and to concentrateand move the heavier materials along and below a concentration line and separator means arranged on said concentration line and comprising a thin fiat horizontal strata separator member projecting toward the upper erid of the table against the movement of material along the concentrating line and spaced above the table-surface,

outlet means communicating with the space below said separator member to carry off the material separatedby said separator member, and a dam arranged adjacent to said outlet means and extending above the table surface on the side of the outlet means toward the upper end of the table.

4. In combination, a longitudinally reciprocating and longitudinally inclined separator table adapted to separate materials bcth vertically and horizontally and to concentrate and move the heavier materials along and below a concentration line and separator means arranged cn said concentratir n line and comprising a thin fiat horizon-' tal strata separator member projecting toward the upper end of the table against the movement of material along the concentrat ing line and spaced above the table surface, and outlet means communicating with the space lelow said separator member to carry off the material separated by said separator member, and a shelf extending over the table surface and spaced above the same and jacent to the'said separator member, and means for supplying water on the top of said shelf.

- 5. In combination, a longitudinally reciprocating and longitudinally inclined separator table adapted to separate materials both vertically and horizontally and to concentrate and" move the heavier materials along and below a concentration line and separator means arranged on said cnncentration line and comprising a thin fiat horizontal strata separator member projecting toward the upper end of the table against the movement of material along the concentratmg line and spaced above the table sur face, and outlet means communicating with the space below said separator member to carry 01f the material separated by said separator member, and a shelf extending over the table surface and spaced above the same to the rear of the said separator member, means for supplying water on the top of said shelf, and confining walls for directing such water to the outlet'means and to the space beneath said shelf.

6. In combination, a longitudinally reciprocating and longitudinally inclined separator table adapted to separate materials both vertically and horizontally and to concentrate and move the heavier materials along and below a concentration line and separator means arranged on'said concentraticn line and comprising a thin fiat horizontal strata separator member projecting toward the upper end of the table against the movement of material along the concen'. tration line and spaced above the table surface, and outlet means communicating with the space below said separator member to carry off the material separated by said separator member, said dam having its top approximately as high asthe strata separator member.

7. In combination, a separator table having a series of rifliesthereon'leading longi-- tudmally of the table and diagonally toward.

the longitudinal concentratin line, said table being inclined downwar ly toward its discharge end, and separatermeans arranged on said concentrating line and. comprising a thin flat horizontal strata separator plate projecting its thin edge toward the upper end of the table against the movement of .material along said concentrating line, said plate being spaced above the table surface a dista'nceless than the height of the rililes on the table.

8. In combination, a separator table having'aseries of riflies thereon leading longitudinally of the: table "and diagonally toward a longitudinal concentrating line, said table being longitudinally inclined, a separator means arranged on said concentrating line, comprising a thin flat horizontal strata separator plate projecting its thin edge toward the upper end of the table and against the movement. of material along said concentrating line, said. plate being spaced above the'table surface a distance less than the height 'of the riflies on the table, a wedge shaped box having a sharp end projecting toward' the upper end of the table against flow of materials along the concentrating line, the interior o'f'the-box being in communication with the space beneath the separator plate, said table being providedwith outlet aperture 'inthe bottom of the box and a dam over which material passes from beheath the separator plate to said outlet aperture.

In witness that I claim the foregoing'I have'hereunto subscribed my name this 26th day of March, 1912.

JOHN F. ISBELL- Witnesses:

'Euvooo H. BAR KELEW, JAMES T. BARKELEW.- 

